List of endangered languages in Mexico explained

An endangered language is a language that it is at risk of falling out of use, generally because it has few surviving speakers. If it loses all of its native speakers, it becomes an extinct language. UNESCO defines four levels of language endangerment between "safe" (not endangered) and "extinct":[1]

Languages

LanguageSpeakersStatusCommentsRef
Acatepec Mazatec language, Acatepec Mazatec Vulnerable  
Akatek language, Akatek Vulnerable  
Awakatek language, Awakatek Critically endangered  
Ayapanec language, Ayapanec Critically endangered  
Ayapenaco language, Ayapenaco Critically endangered  
Ayautla Mazatec language, Ayautla Mazatec Vulnerable  
Central Cuicatec language, Central Cuicatec Vulnerable  
Central Náhuatl language, Central Náhuatl Vulnerable  
Central Otomí language, Central Otomí Definitely endangered  
Central Pame language, Central Pame Vulnerable  
Central Popoloc language, Central Popoloc Severely endangered  
Central Tlapanec language, Central Tlapanec Vulnerable  
Central Zoque language, Central Zoque Definitely endangered  
Chatino of the western lowlands Definitely endangered  
Chatino of Zacatepec language, Chatino of Zacatepec Definitely endangered  
Chichimec language, Chichimec Vulnerable  
Chihuahua Lower Pima language, Chihuahua Lower Pima Definitely endangered  
Chilchotla Mazatec language, Chilchotla Mazatec Vulnerable  
Chiquihuitlán Mazatec language, Chiquihuitlán Mazatec Definitely endangered  
Chontal Tabasco language, Chontal Tabasco Severely endangered  
Chuj language, Chuj Critically endangered  
Cocopa language, Cocopa Definitely endangered  
Eastern Chocho language, Eastern Chocho Severely endangered  
Eastern Cuicatec language, Eastern Cuicatec Vulnerable  
Eastern Mazahua language, Eastern Mazahua Definitely endangered  
Eastern Popoloc language, Eastern Popoloc Vulnerable  
Eastern Tlapanec language, Eastern Tlapanec Vulnerable  
Eloxochitlán Mazatec language, Eloxochitlán Mazatec Vulnerable  
Filomeno Mata Totonac language, Filomeno Mata Totonac Vulnerable  
Higher Reservoir Mazatec language, Higher Reservoir Mazatec Vulnerable  
Highland Chontal language, Highland Chontal Severely endangered  
Highland Mazatec language, Highland Mazatec Vulnerable  
Huasteca Náhuatl language, Huasteca Náhuatl Vulnerable  
Huehuetla Tepehua language, Huehuetla Tepehua Definitely endangered  
Huehuetlán Mazatec language, Huehuetlán Mazatec Vulnerable  
Huichol language, Huichol Vulnerable  
Isthmus Náhuatl language, Isthmus Náhuatl Vulnerable  
Ixcatec language, Ixcatec Critically endangered  
Ixcatlán Mazatec language, Ixcatlán Mazatec Vulnerable  
Ixil language, Ixil Critically endangered  
Ixtenco Otomí language, Ixtenco Otomí Severely endangered  
Jakaltek language, Jakaltek Severely endangered  
Kʼicheʼ language, Kʼicheʼ Definitely endangered  
Kaqchikel language, Kaqchikel Critically endangered  
Kickapoo language, Kickapoo Critically endangered  
Kiliwa language, Kiliwa Critically endangered  
Lacandón language, Lacandón Critically endangered  
Lower Mixe language, Lower Mixe Vulnerable  
Lower Northwestern Otomí language, Lower Northwestern Otomí Vulnerable  
Lowland Chontal language, Lowland Chontal Critically endangered  
Lowland Mazatec language, Lowland Mazatec Vulnerable  
Malinaltepec Tlapanec language, Malinaltepec Tlapanec Vulnerable  
Mam language, Mam Severely endangered  
Matlatzinca language, Matlatzinca Definitely endangered  
Mayo language, Mayo Critically endangered  
Mazatlán Mazatec language, Mazatlán Mazatec Vulnerable  
Mezquital Otomí language, Mezquital Otomí Definitely endangered  
Misantla Totonac language, Misantla Totonac Critically endangered  
Mixtec of San Miguel Piedras language, Mixtec of San Miguel Piedras Severely endangered 
Mixtec of San Pedro Tidaá language, Mixtec of San Pedro Tidaá Severely endangered 
Mixtec of Santa Cruz Itundujia language, Mixtec of Santa Cruz Itundujia Definitely endangered 
Mixtec of Santa Inés de Zaragoza language, Mixtec of Santa Inés de Zaragoza Definitely endangered 
Mixtec of the central Ravine Definitely endangered 
Mixtec of the northeast lowlands Severely endangered 
Mixtec of the Puebla-Oaxaca border
(several Mixtec languages go by this name; UNESCO intends Chazumba Mixtec)
 Definitely endangered 
Mixtec of the southwest of Puebla Definitely endangered 
Mixtec of Tlaltempan language, Mixtec of Tlaltempan Definitely endangered 
Mixtec of Villa de Tututepec language, Mixtec of Villa de Tututepec Definitely endangered 
Mixtec of Zapotitlán language, Mixtec of Zapotitlán Severely endangered 
Motocintlec language, Motocintlec Critically endangered  
Mountain Guarijío language, Mountain Guarijío Vulnerable  
Northern Cuicatec language, Northern Cuicatec Vulnerable  
Northern Pame language, Northern Pame Definitely endangered  
Northern Popoloc language, Northern Popoloc Vulnerable  
Northern Tepehuán language, Northern Tepehuán Definitely endangered  
Northern Tlapanec language, Northern Tlapanec Vulnerable  
Northern Totonac language, Northern Totonac Critically endangered  
Northwestern Otomí language, Northwestern Otomí Vulnerable  
Northwestern Tarahumara language, Northwestern Tarahumara Vulnerable  
Northwestern Tlapanec language, Northwestern Tlapanec Vulnerable  
Oʼodham language, Oʼodham Definitely endangered  
Ocopetatillo Mazatec language, Ocopetatillo Mazatec Vulnerable  
Ocoyoacac Otomí language, Ocoyoacac Otomí Severely endangered  
Olultecan language, Olultecan [typo] Severely endangered  
Ozumatlán Totonac language, Ozomatlán Totonac Critically endangered  
Paipai language, Paipai Severely endangered  
Papantla Totonac language, Papantla Totonac Definitely endangered  
Patla-Chicontla Totonac language, Patla-Chicontla Totonac Severely endangered  
Purépecha language, Purépecha Vulnerable  
Pisaflores Tepehua language, Pisaflores Tepehua Vulnerable  
Puebla Mazatec language, Puebla Mazatec Vulnerable  
River Guarijío language, River Guarijío Vulnerable  
San Dionisio del Mar Huave language, San Dionisio del Mar Huave Definitely endangered  
San Francisco del Mar Huave language, San Francisco del Mar Huave Critically endangered  
San Mateo del Mar Huave language, San Mateo del Mar Huave Vulnerable  
Santa María del Mar Huave language, Santa María del Mar Huave Severely endangered  
Sayultec language, Sayultec Definitely endangered  
Seri language, Seri Vulnerable  
Sierra de Puebla Nahuatl language, Sierra de Puebla Náhuatl Definitely endangered  
Sierra Otomí language, Sierra Otomí Vulnerable  
Sierra Popoluca language, Sierra Popoluca Vulnerable  
Sierra Totonac language, Sierra Totonac Severely endangered  
Sonora Lower Pima language, Sonora Lower Pima Severely endangered  
Southeastern Tarahumara language, Southeastern Tarahumara Vulnerable  
Southern Chocho language, Southern Chocho Severely endangered  
Southern Tlapanec language, Southern Tlapanec Severely endangered  
Southern Zoque language, Southern Zoque Definitely endangered  
Southwestern Tepehuan language, Southwestern Tepehuan Vulnerable  
Southwestern Tlapanec language, Southwestern Tlapanec Vulnerable  
Soyaltepec Mazatec language, Soyaltepec Mazatec Vulnerable  
Tabasco Náhuatl language, Tabasco Náhuatl Critically endangered  
Tecóatl Mazatec language, Tecóatl Mazatec Vulnerable  
Teko language, Teko Severely endangered  
Texistepecan language, Texistepecan Severely endangered  
Tilapa Otomí language, Tilapa Otomí Severely endangered  
Tipai language, Tipai Severely endangered  
Tlachichilco Tepehua language, Tlachichilco Tepehua Definitely endangered  
Tlahuica language, Tlahuica Severely endangered  
Tuzantec language, Tuzantec Critically endangered  
Valle Nacional Chinantec language, Valle Nacional Chinantec Definitely endangered  
Western Chocho language, Western Chocho Severely endangered  
Western Mazahua language, Western Mazahua Definitely endangered  
Western Mazatec language, Western Mazatec Vulnerable  
Western Náhuatl language, Western Náhuatl Severely endangered  
Western Otomí language, Western Otomí Severely endangered  
Western Popoloc language, Western Popoloc Severely endangered  
Western Tarahumara language, Western Tarahumara Vulnerable  
Western Tlapanec language, Western Tlapanec Vulnerable  
Western Zoque language, Western Zoque Vulnerable  
Yaqui language, Yaqui Vulnerable  
Zapotec of Asunción Tlacolulita language, Zapotec of Asunción Tlacolulita Critically endangered  
Zapotec of Mixtepe language, Zapotec of Mixtepe Critically endangered  
Zapotec of Petapa language, Zapotec of Petapa Definitely endangered  
Zapotec of San Antonino el Alto language, Zapotec of San Antonino el Alto Definitely endangered  
Zapotec of San Bartolo Yautepec language, Zapotec of San Bartolo Yautepec Severely endangered  
Zapotec of San Felipe Tejalapan language, Zapotec of San Felipe Tejalapan Critically endangered  
eastern lowlands Zapotec of the Southern mountains Definitely endangered  
northeast Zapotec of the Southern mountains Definitely endangered  
northwest lowlands Zapotec of the Southern mountains Definitely endangered  
north Zapotec of the Valleys Severely endangered  
central Zapotec of the Valleys Severely endangered  
middle northwest Zapotec of the Valleys Definitely endangered  
west Zapotec of the Valleys Definitely endangered  
Zapotec of Zimatlán de Álvarez language, Zapotec of Zimatlán de Álvarez Definitely endangered  

Number of speakers

Indigenous languages of Mexico in 2005
LanguageSpeakers
Nahuatl (Nahualt, Nahuat, Nahual, Melatahtol) 1,376,026
Yucatec Maya (Maaya tʼaan)759,000
Mixtec (Tuʼun sávi)423,216
Zapotec (Diidxaza/Dizhsa)410,901
Tzeltal Maya (Kʼop o winik atel)371,730
Tzotzil Maya (Batsil kʼop)329,937
Otomí (Hñä hñü)239,850
Totonac (Tachihuiin)230,930
Mazatec (Ha shuta enima)206,559
Chʼol (Mayan) (Winik)185,299
Huastec (Téenek)149,532
Chinantec (Tsa jujmí)125,706
Mixe (Ayüük)115,824
Mazahua (Jñatho)111,840
Purépecha (Pʼurhépecha)105,556
Tlapanec (Mephaa)98,573
Tarahumara (Rarámuri)75,371
Amuzgo (Tzañcue)43,761
Chatino (Chaʼcña)42,791
Tojolabʼal (Tojolwinik otik)43,169
Popoluca (Zoquean) (Tuncápxe)54,004
Chontal de Tabasco (Yokot tʼan)43,850
Huichol (Wixárika)35,724
Mayo (Yoreme)32,702
Tepehuán (Oʼdam)31,681
Trique (Tinujéi)24,491
Cora (Naáyarite)17,086
18,926
Huave (Ikoods)15,993
Cuicatec (Nduudu yu)12,610
Yaqui (Yoem Noki or Hiak Nokpo)14,162
Qʼanjobʼal10,833
Tepehua (Hamasipini)10,625
Pame (Xigüe)9,768
Mam (Qyool)8,739
Chontal de Oaxaca (Slijuala sihanuk)5,534
2,143
Tacuate (Mixtec de Santa María Zacatepec) (Tuʼun Vaʼa)2,067
Chichimeca jonaz (Úza)1,987
Guarijío (Warihó) 1,905
Chocho (Runixa ngiigua) 1,078
Pima Bajo (Oob Noʼok) 836
835
Lacandón (Hach tʼan) 731
Jakaltek (Poptí) (Abxubal) 584
Matlatzinca/Ocuilteco (Tlahuica) 522
Seri (Cmiique iitom) 518
406
Kʼicheʼ286
230
Paipai (Jaspuy pai) 221
Cucapá (Kuapá) 206
Mototzintleco (Qatok) 186
Kumiai (Tiʼpai) 185
Pápago (Oʼodham) 153
Kikapú (Kikapoa) 144
108
Cochimí (Laymón, mtiʼpá) 96
Kiliwa language (Koʼlew) 55
27
Ayapenaco2
Other languages 1 337
1 Including: Òpata, Soltec, and Papabucan
Only includes population 5 and older. Source: INEGI (2005) https://web.archive.org/web/20070825062559/http://www.inegi.gob.mx/est/contenidos/espanol/rutinas/ept.asp?t=mlen10&c=3337

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: 2010 . Moseley . Christopher . Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger . Memory of Peoples . 3rd . Paris . UNESCO Publishing . 978-92-3-104096-2 . 2015-04-11 .